Lagos throws open sports facilities for public use

Official opening of the 18th Sports Festival at Teslim Balogun Stadium

Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Mr. Ayodele Agbesanwa, has directed that all the sports facilities of the state should be thrown open for the use of the various communities within the locality of the facilities.

This directive was given at a meeting with nine sports facilities managers held at the Commissions’ Office at Teslim Balogun Stadium on Wednesday.
Agbesanwa further directed that the facilities managers should reach out to schools, sports clubs, Non-Governmental Organisations and the communities.
According to him, the usage of these facilities would enhance healthier and physical well-being of people while it would also prevent Lagosians from running foul of the law on street closure.
Agbesanwa opined that “various sections of these facilities that needs repairs or renovations would be attended to by the state government. All issues pertaining to the smooth running of these facilities would be looked into in due course, while taking into special consideration issues of illegal squatters and those that encroached on the properties.”
The facilities include Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island; Onikan Stadium, Onikan; Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba; Agege Stadium, Agege; Jalisco Sports Complex, Oshodi; Amuto Playground, Lagos Island; Elegbata Playground, Lagos Island; Isheri Swimming Pool, Isheri/Magodo and Ijede Playground, Ijede.
Meanwhile, the creation of Lagos State Sports Commission, has been described as part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s plan to re-position sports in the state.
Lagos State Sports Commission berthed with the collapsing of the Office of Sports in the Ministry with its agencies (Lagos State Sports Council and Sports Facilities Management Agency) into a single structure by Governor Ambode via an Executive Order (NO. EO/AA 01 of 2015).
The creation of the Sports Commission was done to enhance, improve and consolidate on the rising profile of the state as the emerging sports destination and sports tourism, a status that Lagos had begun to enjoy since the hosting of the adjudged best organised 18th National Sports Festival of 2012. No other state has been able to host the 19th edition of the festival after.
The pioneer Director General of the Commission, Agbesanwa on resumption said that the Commission is poised to take Lagos State to higher heights in terms of sports development, making Lagos a sports destination globally while also tapping into sports tourism as a revenue earner and for economic gains for Lagosians in particular.
He noted that, the government of Akinwunmi Ambode is focused on using sports for the physical, mental, psychological and economic well-being of Lagosians, as well as ensuring adequate staff welfare for improved productivity.
The Director General therefore, advised staff of the commission to imbibe the spirit of oneness, be disciplined, avoid back-biting, ensure punctuality and improve the scorecard of Lagos Sports family in the comity of sports family globally.
The Lagos State Sports Commission headquarters is located at the Teslim Balogun Stadium with Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba, housing some of the offices.
The Commission is structured into seven directorates consisting of Sports Development; Technical; Institutional Sports; Medical Service; Sports Facilities; Accounts and Administration & Human Resources each headed by a Director.
The supporting units are Press & Public Relations; Corporate Affairs & Legal; ICT; Internal Audit and Procurement.